Ensilage harvester



Jan. 15, 1929.

A. G. RONNING ET AL ENSILAGE HARVESTER Filed Aug. 13, 1925 4@ am 93 92/20 /fg y 1,699,251 A. G. RONNING ET AL ENSILAGE HARVESTER 9sheets-sheet 2 Filed Aug. 13, 1923 .f7 "4 ,e Aime/vim 9 sheets-sheet V4Jan. 15, 1929.

A. G. RONNING ET AL ENSILAGE HARVESTER Filed Aug. 13, 1923 Jan. l5,1929.`

A. G. RONNING ET AL ENSILAGEy HARVESTER Filed Aug. 13, 1923 9Sheets-Sheet 5 mmm/mes A70/0405 Pon/v in? 5r wwf/,e Arme/riff /ww W Jan.l5, 1929. 1,699,251

A. G. RONNING ETAL ENSILAGE HARVESTER Filed Aug. 13., 4.1925 9Sheets-Sheet 6 Mb@ ,.r.) m

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Jan. 15, 1929.

A. G. RONNING ET AL ENSILAGE HARVES TER Filed Aug. 13, 1923 9Sheets-Sheet 7 r n my M MM nom. 7. mm@ wpd/0H. n/W dem @M4 m m Jan. 15,1929.

A. G. RONNING ET' AL ENS ILAGE HARVESTER Filed Aug.13, 1923 9sheets-sheet 8 Jan. l5, 1929.

A. G. RoNNlNG ET AL ENS ILAGE HARVESTER Filed Aug.15, 1923 9 sheds-sheet9 IllLlllll U l Il Il T ll ll ll l1 /V VE N 70,95 a n G Penn/'H9 f90/mm3.1/forna- .Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

mann e. B ONNING .um aDoLrn nonnina,

0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA; J'AOB A. RUNNING LND ADOLPH RUNNING EXECUTOBSOF SAID ANDBEAN G. BONNIN G.

DECEASED.

ENSILAGE HARVESTER.

Application med August 1s, 192e. serial No. 657,176.

Our invention relates to ensilage harvesters of the type wherein thecorn stalks are cut from the ground and are cut or shredded intoeusilage bythe'travelling machine.

The ensilage-harvester proper is of a gen eral type well known to thetrade and it is associated with a tractor, by which it is moved and fromwhich it is operated. Any common or Well known type of tractor isadapted for the above noted association and use.

The ensilage harvester proper is located at one side of the tractor andis provided with a laterally extended ensilage elevator, by which latterthe ensilage is adapted to-be carried into a box or wagon driven orlocated `at the other side of the tractor. The ensilage harvester andits elevator in plan form a sort of L-shaped structure in the angle ofwhich the tractor is located.

The invention comprises various novel devices a-nd combinations ofdevices that will be hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

Inlthe accompanying drawings, which i l lustrate the inventlon, likecharacters indrcate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:v

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the complete ensilage harvester includingthe tractor;

Fig. 2 is a left side elevation of the complete ensilage harvester, someparts being brokenaway;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the tractor shown in Fig. *1, some partsbeing broken away and some parts being sectioned;

Fig. 4 is a detail in vertical section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 6'; y

Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective showing the lifting section betweenthe tractor and.

the ensilage harvester proper;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section showing the means for driving theensilage cutter from the tractor; p

Fig. 7 is a detail in section on the line 7--7 of Fig. 8;

Fig; 8 is a plan view showing a portion of u stalk-feeding belt;

Fig. 9 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 but illustrating a somewhatmodified construction;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the rear mecha-A nism shown in Fig. 9, someparts bein sectioned on the irregular line 10-10 o said view;

Fig. 11 is a verticalA section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 isa perspective showing the socalled refuse-ejecting deckremoved from the machine; Y

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the deck shown in Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is aside elevation of a tedder-actmg shaker shown in Fig.10.;

F1g. 15 is an end elevation of the shaker shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a plan view showing in detail, the toothed feed cylindershown as applied 1n Figs. 10 and 11;

Fig. 17 is an. end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 16; l i

Fig. 2* is a fragmentary viewlpartly in side elevationA showing partsfound in the vlcinity of the line marked 2*- on Fig. 1, but with someparts sectioned on the line farther outward than the vsaid line 2"- E;

to particularly note the tractor main framev 20. the rear tractionwheels 21, the front vsteering wheels 22, and the worm gear shaft 23,which latter is the customary element off a vcommon type of tractorarranged to co-l operate with a worm gear and differential gearmechanism to transmit-power from the tractor engine to the tractionwheels. The rear end of the shaft 23, as is customary, is journaled inan anti-friction bearing 24 on the rear portion of a differentialtransmis? sion housing 25.l We utilize this shaft 2311s a convenient anddesirable element for. initial E transmission of power from the tractorVenl. gine to the ensilage harvester proper, and

vided at its front end with a clutch member hence a rearwardly extendedshaft 26 is pro- I 27 that is detachably engageable with a clutch imember 28, which latter 1s in the nature of cured to the housing 25.This'arm 29`acts as a rigid cantilever extension of the tractor mainframe, and at its rear end` it is provided. with a tubular transversegear casing in which is journaled a short transverse drivine' shaft31.The rear end of the shaft 26 carries a bevel gear 32 that works withingear casing 30 and meshes with a bevel pinion 33 that is loose on theshaft 31 but adapted to be coupled thereto, at will, by a clutch collar34 cut to slide on vsaid shaft. The clutch` collar 34, as shown, isadapted to be shifted by a lever 35 mounted in the casing 30 and adaptedto be readily reached by the operator from the drivers seat20.

The ensilage harvester proper is preferably made in the form of anattachment which is carried in part by the tractor frame and in part byan auxiliary wheel 36. This wheel 36 is j ournaled on the crank-likeaxle 37 which, in turn, is journaled to and supports a framework 38 ofthe ensilage harvester or attachment. This framework 38 is of skeleton form and is arranged to support a pair of laterally'spaced forwardlyprojecting gathering frames 39. The rear lower portions of the gatheringframes 39 are connecte'd by an inclined deck 40, at the front edge ofwhich a reciprocating cutter bar 41 is mounted. This cutter bar 41 isshown as provided with a sickle plate 42 thatserves to cut the standingcorn stalks from the ground. Means for reciprocating the bar 41 will behereinafter described.

In the present machine, the corn stalks,

after being severed from the roots, are carried rearward and upward onthe inclined deck by means oftoothed feed belts in the form of sprocketchains 43 arranged to run obliquely over idle sprockets 44 and overdriving sprockets 45 suit-ably mounted on the gathering fram'es 39.' Thesprockets 45 are arranged to be driven by shafts 46 which, at theirlower ends, are provided with bevel gears 47 that mesh with bevel gears48 on a transverse shaft 49 journaled in the framework 38 below the rearend of the deck 40. The transverse shaft 49, at its inner end, isprovided with a bevel gear 50 that meshes with a bevel gear 51 on therear end of a shaft 52 that is journaled in suitable bearings on thetractor side of the gathering frames 39 and the shaft 52 is provided, atits front end, with a crank disc 53A which operates a pitman 54 that isconnected to the cutter bar 41, (see Figs. 1 and 5).

The ensilage cutter preferably herein em ployed is of the lawn mowertype; that is, of a type comprising spiral cuttingblades'55 which, byradial arms, are connected to a cutter shaft 56 j ournaled in suitablebearings on end 0f a crank the housed end or box-like rear portionv 57of the harvester frame (see Figs. 2 and 6). This ensilage cutter isarranged on a transverse aXis to rotate just rearward of and below therear end of the inclined deck 40, and it co-operate's with a relativelyfixed shearing plate. 58 suitably secured in the housing 57.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 6 it will be noted that the cutter shaft 56is driven from the shaft 31 through'an intermediate shaft 59 connected,respectively, to the shafts 5G and 31,by knuckle joints 60 and 61. Theshaft 59 works in a relatively large tubular hous ing 62 which, at oneend, is rigidly secured to the housing 57, and at its other end isprovided with a two-partsubstantially spherical casing 63 that looselyengages overa head 64 rigidly secured to the adjacent end of the gearcasing 30. In this way, the rear portion of the ensilage harvester isflexibly connected to the tractor frame with freedom for angular andvertical movements but is held substantially spaced from the tractor.

As an important feature, the stalks, which are in slightly inclined butsubstantially upright positions, are, by the sprocket chains 43, carriedover and beyond the rear end of the deck 40 and are arranged to beengaged and positively fed downward by a nearly upright rake-acting feedbelt. This rake-act1ng feed belt (see particularly Figs. 1, 2 and 8) 1smade up of sprocket chains 65 and angle iron cross slats 66, theprojecting edges of which latter are serrated or provided wit-hrake-acting teeth. The belt chains 65 run over a sprocket-equipped shaft67 that is journaled in the upper rear portions of the gathering frames39. Said belt chains 65 run under sprocket-equipped shaft 68 that isjournaled in the projecting arms of a pair of bell cranks 69intermediately pivoted to links 69n and subject to adjustable springs70, the tension of which yieldingly holds the lower portion of therake-acting belt forwardly but permits the same to yield under pressurefrom the stalks.

As alread noted, the coupling devices above descri ed-and particularlyshown in Fig. 6 afford one of the connections between the tractor andthe ensilage harvester propel', but other connections are provided forcause ing the ensilage harvester to travel with the tractor whilepermittingthe required relative movements and adjustments thereof. Oneof the most importantconnections is best shown in detail in Fig. 5, andis also shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The numeral 71 indicates a trussedbracket that is rigidly secured to the tractor frame 2O and projectstoward the left therefrom and terminates close to the inner side of the'inner` gathering frames 39.

Mounted for oscillatory movements in this bracket 71 is a rock shaft 72equipped with a latch lever 73 that co-operates wlth a latch segment 74` rigidly secured on the bracket 71.

Maasai At its outer end, the rock shaft 72 has a radially projectinlifting arm 75 that works between vertical y spaced studs 76 on the ad-A jacent side of the gathering frame 39. The studs 76 are tiedtogetherby a retaining plate 77 and the lifting arm 75 works just inward of thisplate 77 and just outward of the guide stri 78 that is rigidly securedto the inner gat ering frame 39. Normally, the upper stud 76 will reston the lifting arm 75. Said arm carries part of the weight of theensilage harvester and the harvester may be vertically' adj usted byoscillatory movements of the rock shaft 72 and lever 73. Also the arm 75being engaged between the plates 77 and 78 serves to hold the ensilageharvester `laterally spaced from the'trfactor.i Under vertical movementsimparted to the harvester by raising and lowering movements of thelifting arm 75, the gathering frames are oscillated vertically on theground wheels 36 and on the ball and socket connection 63-64 between thegear case 30 and the tubular housing 62.

The ensilage harvester is held laterally spaced from the tractor byconnections de- Scribed and by a transverse beam 7 9, (see Fig. 6), oneend of which is rigidly secured to the housing 57 and the other end ofwhich is rigidly secured to a projection 63 of the outer sphericalcasing 63. The force re uired to cause the ensilage harvester to travewithy the tractor is taken chiefly by a drawbar 80, which, at its rearend, (see Fi 6), is pivotally connected at 81 to the tiear 79, and atits front end, (see Figs. 1 and 5), is pivotally connected at 82 to theoffset bracket 71 of the tractor.

' The rear portion of the ensilage harvester may be raised and loweredby oscillatory adjustments of the crank axle 37 and said axle isarranged to be given such oscillatory adjustmentsand to be held whereset by means of an adjusting rod 8 3. This rod, at its upper end, has alarge eye through which the crank portion of the axle 37 is passed andthe other end of said rod is passed through the end of a beam 84projected from the bottom ofthe housing 57. Below said bar-84, the rod83 is threaded and rovided with a nut 85, (see Figs. 2 and 3), yadjustments of which the crank axle may be set in different positionsfor the purpose stated.

As the corn stalks are fed off tively engage the butt ends of the stalksandv move the same longitudinall toward thel downwardly moving side ofte rake-acting belt 65. A quite similar construction to. this and themethod of operation is more clearly from the rear end of the inclineddeck 40, their downturned shown in Fig. 9 of our copending a plicationSerial No. 7 24,422, which bears a ling date as of July 5th, 1924.

By the conjoint action of the said rakejournaled in the housing 57. Thisroller 88 is circumferentially grooved and its ridges are cut to formratchet teeth 88. Said roller rotates in a clockwise direction inrespect to Fig. 18 and it assists in feeding the stalks over the cuttingedge of the shearing bar 58 at a uniform speed, but the ratchet teeththere'- of, acting on the stalks, prevent the stalks from being ,jerkedor shot downward too rapitlly by the action of the rotary ensilagecutter. To prevent the stalks from being car-f ried between the roller88 and the sheari'nfr blade 58, we provide a comb-like blade 90, (seeFig. 6), secured to the housing 57 and Work ing as closely as possibleinthe grooves of said roller.

It may here be noted that the stalks are positively gripped and carriedrearwardly from thestalk cutter, in the usual manner, but there is animportant distinction in thefpresent stalk conveying'system that is notfound in other harvesters that have come to our attention, namely, inthat the present machine provides means for maintaining this positivegripping, or feeding action, upon the stalks, from the time they are cutfrom the field until they have been fed into the ensilage cutter. Thus,the rearward ends of the gathering chains 43, and especially the upperpair of chains `are continuously 'urging or crowding the stream ofstalks (which is normally much heavier than shown in Fig. 18) backagainst the feed apron 65 with which the gathering chains cooperate tocontinue the grip on the stalk stream, and before the stalks entirelyleave the gat-hering chains their butt ends are successively .engaged bythe rollers 86 and 88 which also cooperate with the downwardly movingfeedv apron to further continue the moving grip on thestalks. It willthus be seen that the stalks are at no time left in suspension, i. e.,they at no time depend upon gravity'to hold them in contactv with` amoving feed element, And

-being always'positively gripped and conizo shaft of the ensilageharvester. At its projecting outer end, said shaft 56 is provided with aspur pinion 91 and with a sprocket 92. The pinion 91 meshes with a spurgear 93 that is journaled on the side of the housing 57 and carries asprocket 94. A sprocket chain 95 runs over the sprocket 94 and oversprockets 96 and 97, respectively, on the outer ends of the shafts 49and 87, (see Figs. 1 and 2). Means whereby the shafts 49 and 87 will berotated to respectively operate the stalkgathering belts and the an ularfeed roller 86, has already been descri ed. Said shaft 87, at its innerend, (see particularly Figs. 1 and 2a), is provided with va drivingsprocket 98. sprocket chain 99 runs over the sprocket 98 and oversprockets 100 and 101. The sprocket 100 is secured to the shaft 89 ofthe roller 88. The sprocket 101 and a spur gear 102 are secured to afloating shaft 103 that forms a pivotal connection between the bellcranks 69 and the links 69a. Here it will be noted that the lower endsof the links 69a are adjustably pivoted in the sides of the` housing 57lat 69", (see Fig. 23).V By reference to F ig.I 2, it will be seen' thatthe lower ying' belt to automatically move toward and from the rollers86 and 88.

By reference particularly to Fig. 2%, it will be noted that the ensilagecutter co-operates with a segmental deck 105 that -delivers into theboot 106 of a transversely and upwardly exten'dedelevator leg 107, (seealso Fig. 3, wherein the said leg is shown as in part supported by achain 108 attached to a post 109, the latter of which is suitably bracedand supported from the beam 79 and other parts of the ensilage harvesterframework). v Working in the elevator leg 107 .is an endless elevatorbeltfin' the form of a sprocket chain 110 that is equipped withpropelling' blades 111. The chain 110 runs over an idlesprocket-equipped shaft 112 mounted in the upper portion( of the leg 107and runs under and is driven by a driving sprocket 113, (see Fig. 2*),carried by a short shaft 114 journaled in a .suitable bearing 115 on thebutt or lower portion of the leg 107 and provided at its outer end 'witha bevel pinion 116. The

pinion 116 meshes with a bevel gear 117 carried by a short countershaft118 journaled in a bearing 119 secured on the rear'portion of theframework of the ensilage harvester. At its outer end, the shaft 118 isprovided with a sprocket 119. runs over the Sprocket 119 and over thesprocket 92, which, as already described, is carried by the shaft 56 ofthe nsilage cutter. By the connections just des ibed, the in- A sprocketchain 120' iueeaati clined elevator belt will be driven from the shaftof the ensilage cutter. Preferably, the elevator belt is arranged tocarry the cut ensilage upward through the lower run or passage of theelevator leg 107.- The said elevator leg, at its upper end, delivers toa discharge spout 121, from which the cut ensilage may be delivered intothe box of a wagon driven at the right-hand side of the tractor.

Remarks.

The operation of the mechanism so far described is probably clear fromthe statements andcomments already made, but may to advantage be brieflysummarized as follows: y

Under the advance movement of the harvester, the standing corn stalkswill be severed from their roots close to the ground and, by thegathering belts, will be carried upward on the inclined deck 40 whileheld in upright but more or less forwardly inclined positions. As thebutt ends of the stalks are passed 0E of the rear end of the deck 40,the gathering belts lose their grip on the stalks and the stalks arethen delivered first onto the angular roller 86 and then against thedownwardly moving side of the rake-acting feed belt -66. The angularroller 86, with its projecting serrated edges, acts as a beater and moreor less as a shredder on the' engaged stalks, but, moreover, it actspositively to deliver the butt'ends of the stalks over the same andtoward their final point of delivery to the ensilage cutter. The ratchettoothed roller 88, as already noted, assists in the-feeding action andprevents over-feeding and, hence, acts as a sort of a feed stabilizer.Of course, gravity materially assists in the downward feed of the stalksto the ensilage cutter, but the rake-acting feed belt insures the properfeed and even delivery of the stalks to the ensilage cutter.

By the ensilage cutter, the stalks will be reduced to ensilage and theensilage will be delivered to the elevator belt in a manner ver obviousfrom the foregoing description.

he ensilage harvester so far described in detail is especially intendedfor use in cutting reen corn stalks and for converting the entire stalk,including the ears, into green ensilage. Experiments vhave shown thatripe corn stalks including matured ears, can, with advantage, beharvested and cut up, much like ensilage, the cob sections and the cornkernels reclaimed and separated from the roughage, and the latter, towit: the dry cut stalk, stacked or otherwise stored` and thereafter usedas dry feed or for other purposes. The reclaimed corn, whetherl shelledor on the cob, will advisably be stored in cribs 0r other suitablecontainers.

To provide a machine especially adapted for doing the work just aboveoutlined, we provide mechanism such as particularly illustrated in Figs.9 to 17, inclusive. This mecha- 'liti usually designated as roughage,are not, 1n

a strict sense of the word, ensilage, but nevertheless, forconvenience-,the complete Ina- ,chine may be still treated as anensila-ge harvester, but it may also be treated as a universal cornharvester. In this modified construction,the numeral 107 indicates anelevator leg that corresponds to the elevator leg 107 already describedand in which works the elevator belt 1l0-111 that corresponds to theelevator belt 110-111. In this arrangement, however, the elevator leg107 is incorporated ina casing 122, at the delivery side of which aretwo inclined elevator legs 123 and 124. Working in the elevator legs12S-,124 are conveyor belts 125-126, respectively, preferab-ly ot thesame type as the belt 110-111. Said belts 125-126, respectively, aredriven by sprocket-equipped shafts 127-4128. Preferably, said belts aredriven in a direction so that the under sides of theI belts deliver,respectively, to discharge spouts 129-130. l

Secured in the casing 122, below the elevator leg 107', is a tan case131 provided with an adjustable upwardly flaring air discharge spout132. Working within the fan case 131 is a fan head or-rotor 133, theshaft 134 of which projects and is provided at one end with a bevel gear135 and at its other end with a sprocket 136. The fan shaft 134 isdriven from the shaft 118 through a bevel gear 137 and a shaft 138. Thegear 137 meshes wit-bathe gear 135 and the shaft 138 is connected to theshaft 118 by. a knuckle joint 139. The fan case 131 has an adjustableair intake passage 140 that is made adjustable 'by means of a slidinggate 141, (see Fig. 9). The air discharge passage 132 is betweenlaterally adjustable plates 142, by adjustments of which the directionof the blast may be varied.

Slightly ybelow and more or less outward of the delivery end of theelevator leg 107 is a shaker 'made up of toothed bars 143 carried bycrank shafts 144-145. The Vcrank shaft 144 is directly journaled in thesides of the casing 122 and is provided at one outer end with-:sprockets146 and 147. The crank shaft 145 is journaled in bearings 148 that areadjustable in segmental slots 149 formed in the sides of said case andextending concentric to the axis of the shaft 144. Mounted above theshaker 143 is a rotary beater in the form of a. roller 150 havingradially projecting pins. The shaft of this roller 150 projects and isprovided with a sprocket 151, over which and the sprocket 147 runs asprocket chain 152, (see Figs.9 and 10) The sprocketequipped shafts 127and 128, which, as noted,

drive the two elevatorbelts 125 and 126, are provided at their outerends with sprockets 153 and 154, over which runs a sprocket chain 155.This completes the driving connections to the several movable parts ofthe additional harvester mechanism just described. j j

Extending parallel to but just above the lower portion of the upperelevator leg 123, the sides of the casing 122 are formed with longdischarge passages or slots 156, (see particularly Fig. 9). Extendingover ,and across the lower portion of said elevator leg 123, from theone slot 156 to the other, is an adjustable refuse ejecting deck shownas made up of two overlapped plates 157 and 158 that are inclinedtransversely in op osite directions from a .central ridge, so t atanything dropping on the said plates will be caused to roll or slideoutward through one or the other of the passages156. The

plate 157 is providedv with side flanges 159 that are secured to thesides of the case 122 by slot and bolt connections 160, and, likewise,the plate y158 is provided with side flanges 161 that are adjustablysecured to the sides of said case by slot and bolt connections 162, asindicated in Figs. 10, 11, and 12.

The shaker cranks 144-145 and the beating roller 150 are rotated in ananti-clockwise direction'in respect to Fig. 9, so that they tend to feedbackward into the blast from the l blower all particles of the ensilageor cut stalks and cobs that. come into contact therewith. The blast fromthe blower tends to carry the cut stalks upward and over the beater andshaker and will cause the delivery lof vthe cut leaves and lighterparticles onto the downwardly moving upper portion of the elevator belt125, the upper portion of which belt is exposed or uncovered.

The blast will, of course, have much less action on the heavierparticles, such as the shelled corn and the unshelled'cob sections ornubbins, and these, therefore, will by the shaker 143 be delivered ontothe receiving portion of the elevator belt 126.

The particles such as dry pieces of cut corn stalk, which are muchheavier than the leaves but lighter than the corn cobs, lwill be carriedbythe blast over the shaker 143 and will drop onto the ejecting deck157-158 V'and by the latter will be discharged through the passages 156and dropped upon the ground. Obviously, the hi her the plate 157 isadjusted, the more 0% the cut stalks will be delivered onto the ejectingdeck. Also, the lower down the plate 158 is adjusted, the greater theamount of material that will be caught on the deck and ejected therebyand, consequently, the less will be the amount of material delivered tothe elevator belt 126. By adjustments of the two plates `157-158,

, substantially all of the shelled corn and corn on the cobs will bedelivered tothe elevator belt 126; the light roughage will be deliveredto the elevator belt 125; .and the hard dry deliver them to anupstanding chine. The roughage discharge-through the spout 129 and thecorn discharged through the spout 130 may be delivered -into differentreceptacles, such as the different compartments of a rack or wagon box.

Angular adjustments of the shaker 143 and also adjustments of the blastfrom the blower may be utilized t0 set the machine for the best kind ofseparation of the diEerent parts of the stalks delivered from theso-called ensila e harvester.

T e ensilage harvester or corn harvesting mechanism is especiallyadapted for application to certain types of tractors, but'is not limitedto such use and may, in fact, be applied to any tractor of the propersize and suitable character. Y

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the boot 106 is pivotallymounted on a sleeve-like extension 115 of the bearing 115.

What we claim is:

1. The combination in an ensilage harvester, of a primary cutter and asecondary cutter arranged rearwardly thereof, conveying means fordelivering stalks rearwardly from the primary cutter, a rearwardlyyieldable feeding device adapted to receive the stalks in an uprightposltion from the conveying means and actuate them downwardly into' thesecondary cutter.

2. The combination in an ensilage harvester, of -a primary cutterarranged forwardly'in the machine, a' secondary cutter arrangedrearwardly in the machine, longitudinally arranged co-acting chainsadapted to receive stalks cut by the primary cutter and position overthe secondary cutter, and an endless feeding device having a portionarranged horizontally rearwardly of the delivery ends of certain of saidchains, and operating in a plane substantially at right angles thereto,to receive the stalks in said upstanding position andy feed themlongitudinally down into the secondary cutter. j

3. In an ensilage harvester the combination including a primary cutterand a secondary cutter, means for conveying stalks from the primarycutter/ to an upright position above the secondary butter, and a feedingmechanism arranged to receive the stalks in said upright position andfeed them down into the secondary cutter, said feeding mechanismincluding a substantially vertical endless feed belt arranged rearwardlyof and in spaced relation wi h respect to the conveying means. n

4. The combination with an ensilage harvester having a primary cutter, asecondary cutter, and means for conveying stalks from the primary cutterto the secondary cutter, of a feeding device adapted to receive thestalks directly from the conveying mans and` arranged to deliver them ina subs antially verticalposition down into the secondary cutter, saidfeeding deviceco g of an endless belt and a roller co-operatingtherewith.

formdelivery thereof into the ensilage cutter.

6. The combinatlon with a harvester haviilg an/eiisilage cutter andmeans for conveying stalks to a substantiall upright position above thecutter, of a fee belt arranged t0 receive the stalks in said uprightposition and as'they means and a feed roller arranged, to co-act with dafeed bea a feed such sans in saidupright position downwardly intoV theensila e cutter.

The combination in a harvester having a primary stalk cutter and anensilage cutter, of means for conveying the stalks from the primarycutter to approximately an upright position over the ensilage cutter,afeed apron arranged readwardly o the conveying means izo-receive stalkstherefrom in said upright position, and a feed roller arrangedorwardlyofthe feed apxron to co-operate therewith to feed the stal sdownwardly into the ensilage cutter, said roller bein positioned so thatthe butt ends of the sta lwill pass thereover when passing from theconveying means to the feed apron.

8. In a harvester the combination including, a stalk cutter, an ensilagecutter, means for conveying stalks from the stalk cutter to an upright'osition over the ensilage cutter,` a feeding d)evice having a throat.vthrough which ths'talks are fed in said upright position downinto theensilage cutter, said device comprisin a feed apron and a feed rollerarrange 4forwardl thereof to form saidthroat, and means or mountingsaidY roller and apron whereby said thnoat may be enlar ed underpressure to accommodate a varia le volumeof stalks received from theconve ing means.

9. n a harvester the combination including, a stalk cutter, an ensilagecutter, means \for conveying stalks from the stalk cutter to an uprightposition over the ensilage cutter, a feeding device consisting of a feedapron and a feed roller co-operatmg with the lower end of the feedapron, means for yieldingl actuating said. roller and apron toward eaciiother, and means for applying power to the apron and roller whereby theywill cio-operate to feed the stalks down into the ensilage .cutten 10.The combination with the stalk cutter are delivered from the conveyingand ensilage cutter of an ensilage harvester, y

simultaneously actuating said apron and roll- :ers to operate thefeeding device.

11. The combination with a stalk cutter and an ensila e cutter, of meansfor conveying stalks to t e ensilage cutter from the stalk cutter, saidmeans comprising rearwardly operating gathering chains, a downwardlyoperating apron adapted to receive and operate on the stalks as theyleave the gathering chains, and a series of toothed cleats arranged onthe apron to engage the stalks to actuate them downwardly into theensilage cutter.

'12. The combination with the stalk cutter andv ensilage cutter of anensilageharvester, of a feeding device for feeding stalks into thecutter consisting of an apron and a pair of toothed rollers co-operatingtherewith and near the cutter end thereof, a. ioating shaft arranged tocarry the cutter end of said apron, a spring associated with the shaftto yieldingly actuate it toward the feed roliers, and means forsimultaneously actuating said apron and rollers to operate the feedingdevice. Y

' 13. The combination with the stalk cutter and ensilage cutter of anensilage harvester,

- of a feed belt arranged to receive stalks in an upright position'andAactuate them longitudinally down into the ensilage cutter, said belthaving toothed cross members projecting therefrom to engage the stalksand aifect av uniform feed thereof vinto the cutter.

14. The combination with the stalk cutter and ensilage cutter of anensilage harvester,

of a feed belt arranged to receive stalks andv feed them longitudinallyinto the cutter, a toothed feed roller arranged near the delivery end ofthe belt to co-operate therewith 1n thefeeding operation, means fordriving saidv belt and roller, and a relatively fixed notched bararranged immediately adjacent to the roller. f

15. In an ensilage harvester, vthecombination of a primary cutter and asecondary cutter arranged rearwardly thereof, gathering chains operatinglongitudinally of the machine to convey' stalks from the primary cutterto an upright osition over the secondary cutter,.and a feed) beltarranged rearwardly of the gathering chains to receive said stalks`therefrom and actuate them down into the secondary cutter, said feedlbelt being arranged so that its working surface may operate in a planeat substantially right angles to the planes of the athering chains.

16. An ensilage arvester comprising a stalk cutter, an ensilage cutter,means for conveying stalks from the stalk cutter to the ensilage cutter,and means for segregating the cut ensilage into various kinds.

17. An ensilage harvester comprising astalk cutter, an ensilage cutter,means for conveying stalks from the stalk cutter to the ensilage cutter,means for segregating the cut ensilage into various kinds, and means fordeliveringthe respective kinds of ensilage from themachine.

18. An ensilagel harvester comprising a stalk cutter, an ensilagecutter, means for conto the said conveyinfr devices. harvester consistmg1n 19. An ensilage combination of a stalk cutter, an ensilage cutveyingstalks from the stalk cutter to the env ter arranged to cut the stalksinto ensilage,

means for separating the ensilage into its constituent elements, meansfor delivering said elements from different parts of the machine, andmeans for simultaneously actuating said cutters and separating anddelivering means. Y

20. A harvester comprlsmg a primarycutter for severing stalks from thefield, a sec-I ondary cutter for cutting stalks intoensilage,

means, including chains acting upon'the butt ends of the stalks, forconveying lthe stalks from the primary cutter to a substantially fupright position above thesecondary cutter, power operated feedin means,having a portion thereof disposed igher than the deliw ery end of saidchains, forreceiving stalks from the conveying means, and means adapt`ed to act upon the butt ends of thestalks as the same are delivered fromthe ychains for crowding said butt ends against the said mentionedportion of the feeding means.

21.- A harvester comprising a primary cutter for severing stalks fromthe field, a secondary cutter for cutting stalks into ensilage,4

means,`in`cluding a device acting upon the butt ends of the stalks, forconveying the` stalks from the primary cutter to a substantially uprightposition above the secondary cutter, power operated feeding means,having a rearwardly yieldable portion thereof disposed at a higher levelthan the delivery end of said device, for receiving/stalks from theconveying means, and means adapted to act upon the butt ends of thestalks as the same are delivered from said device for crowding said buttends a inst the said mentioned portion of the` fee ing means ,saidmentioned portion of the feeding means be ing rearwardly the crowdingmeans.

yieldable whereby it may yield to the volume of stalks acted upon by 22.A harvester comprising a primary cutter for severing stalks from thefield, a secondary cutter for cutting the stalks into ensilage, meansfor conveying the stalks from the primary cutter to a substantiallyupright position over the secondary cutter, means for receiving saidstalks, when in said substantially upright position and forciblygripping and feeding them down into the secondary cutter, and means,adapted to engage 1the butt ends of the stalks after they have beenfreed from the conveying means but before they are gripped by thefeeding means,`to positively impel the stalk butts from the cnveyingmeans toward the feeding means.

23. A harvester comprising a primary cutter for severing stalks from thefield, a secondary cutter for cutting the stalks into ensilage, means.including conveyor chains, for

conveying the cut stalks in a continuous` stream from the primary cutterto a feeding position With respect to the secondary cutter, a feedindevice for receiving the stalks when in sai feeding position and feedingthem into the secondary cutter, said feeding device having meanscooperating With the conveyor chains so as to adect a gripping action tereWith upon the stalk stream so that it Will be positively actuatedfrom the conveying means and into the feeding device.

24. In a traveling ensilage harvester the combination of a stalk cutter,an ensilage cutter, and means for conveying a stream of cut stalks fromthe.stalk cutter and feeding it into ensilage cutter, said conveying andfeeding means comprising a series of devices which cooperate to apply acontinuous/gripping action upon the stalks stream, independent ofgravity, whereby the stream of stalks will be positively gripped anddirected during its entire course from the stalk cutter to the ensilagecutter..

25. A harvester comprising a primary cutter for severing stalks fromthev held, a secondary cutter for cutting stalks into ensilage, means,including conveyor chains, for conveying the cut stalks in a continuousstream from the primary cutter to a feeding position with respect to thesecondary cutter, a feeding device for receiving the stalks when in saidfeeding position and feeding themfinto the secondary cutter, saidfeeding device having yieldable means co-operating with the conveyorchains so as to affect a floating grip action therewith upon the stalkstream so that it will be positively actuated from the conveying meansand into the feeding device.

26. A harvester comprising a primary cutter for severing stalks from thefield, a secondary cutter for cutting the stalks into ensilage, meansfor conveying the cut stalks from the 4primary cutter to a substantiallyupright-,position over the secondary cutter, means for receiving saidstalks, when in said substantially uprightposition and forcibly grippingand feeding them down into the secondary'cutter, said feeding meanscomprising three cooperating members all of which are arranged to travelabout parallel axes.

27. A harvester comprising a primary cutter for severing stalks from thefield, a secondary cutter for cutting the stalks into ensilage, meansfor conveying the cut stalks from the primary cutter to a substantiallyupright position over the secondary cutter, means for receivingsaid-stalks, When in said substantially upright position and forciblygripping and 'feeding them down into the sec ondary cutter, saidfeedine' means com rising three cooperating members one of W ich isyieldable with respect to the others whereby to accommodate a variablevolume of stalks.

Q8. A harvester comprising a primary cutter for severing stalks from thefield, a secondary cutter for cutting the stalks into ensilage, meansfor conveyingthe cut stalks fromthe primary cutter to-a substantiallyupright position over the secondary cutter, means for receiving saidstalks, Whenin said substantially upright position andl frcibly grippingand feeding them down into the sec ondary cutter, said feeding meanscomprising three cooperating members at least one of which is arrangedto engage the stalks before they are successively disengaged from theconveying means.

29. A harvester comprising a primary cutter for severing stalks from theHeld, a secondary cutter for cutting the stalksinto ensilage, means forconveying the cut stalks from the primary cutter to a substantially upriht position over the secondary cutter, means or receiving said stalks,when in said substantially upright position and forcibly gripping andfeeding them down into the secondary cutter,'said feeding meanscomprising three power driven throat forming members, and said feedingmeans being arranged so that it `will receive and act upon the stalksbefore they have been freed from the induence of the conveying means.

ln testimony whereof we amr our signature. l

ANDREAN G. RUNNlNG. AlDOLPH RUNNING.

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